11 replies to this topic

[SpiralFace]

So in the BG. Pilot damage played a vital role in how the Mechwarrior functioned in combat.

While I would be opposed to an actual "Damage" system that can see the pilot die in the mech without killing the mech, It would be interesting to see a series of pilot "effects" happen when conditions trigger that would jar the mechwarrior.

Conditions could include single or any combination of the following things:

- "Shell Shock" audio where all audio is whistled out and slowly comes back into focus over time (Depending on severity of trigger.)
- "Retina Burn" Where your vision is blown out / blurred due to a trigger and comes back over time.
- "Camera Swaying" where the camera sways or gets knocked "off kilter" working.

Triggers for some or all of these could be tied to the following:

- Any time the head is hit on the mech (Severity of effects would be dependent on what hit you and for how much damage.)
- Any time the heat scale stays at a certain heat level for a set amount of time. (say, after 3 seconds of being perpetually above a 25 - 30 heat value you start to get pilot effects like blurred vision until your heat is reduced to a manageable level.
- Any time your mech falls from a certain height and doesn't pad their fall with JJ's.
- Any time your mech Falls (When collisions comes back in.)

Its not much, but given that the devs wanted you to feel like a Mechwarrior in the cockpit, I feel having some fun with what can happen when the mechwarrior goes through some extreme conditions could be a fun thing to add to the game.

[focuspark]

so then the natural progression is to add stun / flash "grenades" into the game?

[SpiralFace]

Not so much anything that can be triggered by your opponent (Unless your shooting for head hits.) But rather effects that are generated when certain things happen. Most of them self pilot controlled. (Note that Head hits is the only currently suggested thing that can be attempted by an opponent.

In BT, pilot skill checks where needed whenever you pushed your mech, and pilot consciousness played a big part of the game. I'm not saying we should get that kind of system in the game, but we can try and have a bit more of the pilot "effects" happen in the game.

While the "flash bang" effect would be a good way to represent when you get smacked in the head by anything that causes 10 damage or above and doesn't out right kill you, I'm thinking more you get smacked in the head with an SRM, your vision and audio gets "shell shocked" for a single second or two. Or your mech stays in the 75-100% heat range without shutting down and you slowly start to get blurred vision from the sustained exposure to the heat.

I wouldn't want to see something like this in the game as something that can easily be accomplished, as otherwise, its too open for abuse.

[CDLord HHGD]

As opposed to current screen shake when getting blasted by ballistics boats? No thanks....

Remove the screen shake in favor of pilot condition, ok. I don't want to contend with blurry vision and blacking out on top of screen shake, darkening due to energy brightness, map clipping........

[Durant Carlyle]

Any effects should be limited to the 'Mech itself (screen shake, reduced speed and slower weapon cooldowns when over a certain heat percentage, etc.). This game is about the 'Mechs not the pilots.

[Randalf Yorgen]

SpiralFace, on 12 December 2013 - 11:24 AM, said:

So in the BG. Pilot damage played a vital role in how the Mechwarrior functioned in combat.

While I would be opposed to an actual "Damage" system that can see the pilot die in the mech without killing the mech, It would be interesting to see a series of pilot "effects" happen when conditions trigger that would jar the mechwarrior.

Conditions could include single or any combination of the following things:

- "Shell Shock" audio where all audio is whistled out and slowly comes back into focus over time (Depending on severity of trigger.)
- "Retina Burn" Where your vision is blown out / blurred due to a trigger and comes back over time.
- "Camera Swaying" where the camera sways or gets knocked "off kilter" working.

Triggers for some or all of these could be tied to the following:

- Any time the head is hit on the mech (Severity of effects would be dependent on what hit you and for how much damage.)
- Any time the heat scale stays at a certain heat level for a set amount of time. (say, after 3 seconds of being perpetually above a 25 - 30 heat value you start to get pilot effects like blurred vision until your heat is reduced to a manageable level.
- Any time your mech falls from a certain height and doesn't pad their fall with JJ's.
- Any time your mech Falls (When collisions comes back in.)

Its not much, but given that the devs wanted you to feel like a Mechwarrior in the cockpit, I feel having some fun with what can happen when the mechwarrior goes through some extreme conditions could be a fun thing to add to the game.

Why not put in a true Hard Core Mode, where if your Pilot dies you lose that pilot and all piloting skills he had opened. I bet there would be a big change in the way the game was played then.

Edited by Randalf Yorgen, 13 December 2013 - 02:40 PM.

[Mercules]

Durant Carlyle, on 13 December 2013 - 10:59 AM, said:

Any effects should be limited to the 'Mech itself (screen shake, reduced speed and slower weapon cooldowns when over a certain heat percentage, etc.). This game is about the 'Mechs not the pilots.

Actually this game is about piloting a mech.

I play ARMA/DayZ and I LOVE when something happens like a grenade goes off near me but doesn't kill me and I am left with ringing ears for a while.

The lore certain supports Pilots being stunned and having issues that impair there functioning in the fight.

[Oppresor]

In Mission Force Cyberstorm (Dynamix 1996) http://www.google.co...U0ALn-EI-_NG0JQ they had a whole section which was dedicated to Pilot care. If the Pilot had suffered from extreme stress you were able to administer Placidex, alternatively if the Pilot had weak skills you could administer a Jack Up; yes we are talking about the use of drugs within a game, not politically correct now days.

[Boozlebean]

This idea is awesome. Huge bump.

Also, sort of related idea I had:

The view stays first person after a 'mech's death. If a 'mech got doubled legged, the cockpit stays intact and we just see what the fall looks/feels like from the pilot's perspective. If it's a head or engine kill, we get to see the destruction: glass cracking, smoke, electricity arcing everywhere, all the readouts shattering, the pilot turning into hamburger, etc. Even a split second of exploding cockpit before the camera snaps to 3rd person would be awesome!

Edited by Boozlebean, 15 December 2013 - 01:08 PM.

[Boozlebean]

Also, to Durant:

If this game was just about the 'mechs, there wouldn't be a little animated pilot ragdoll in there flipping switches and wiggling joysticks. It's time we were reminded that 'mech combat isn't only about the machine, but also the warrior inside.

[Oppresor]

Well said Boozlebean, its the combination of the pilot and the Mech, otherwise we wouldn't have skill trees.

Its a bit repetitive and twisted, but this link will take you to the Cyberstorm pilot death video. Excuse the graphics, it was made in 1996:

http://www.google.co....57967247,d.d2k

Edited by Oppresor, 15 December 2013 - 05:03 AM.

[Boozlebean]

That was awesome. I really liked the Mentor brain-splatter haha